The only guy I see here that I would pursue is Nurkic. Cousins is a cancer. Noel can be had for nothing in the off season if Danny strikes out on a max level guy. Monroe is a net negative on the court and has been since a rookie, very much not the type of big this team is looking for. Cauley-Stein just isnt that good. Vucevic has two years remaining and would kill any chance of the Celtics being able to offer a max contract any time soon.
The guy I go after is Serge Ibaka if the Magic still suck come the trade deadline. You offer up Amir who has a matching $12 million expiring contract plus a pick and bring him in for just this year. Ibaka would fit perfectly on this team alongside Horford.
That seems like a strong characterization of Cousins. Why is he a cancer?
You really have to ask?
I really do have to ask. Can you please explain why he's a cancer? Cancerous cells overcome and kill the body's tissue. To me, Boogie is the only thing keeping this team alive (they aren't far out of the playoffs right now). Without him, they are competing with BKN for the first pick in the draft. Using your metaphor, I think Cousins is the heart or brain of the Kings.
Beyond thinking that you're wrong about Cousins, I think comparing people to cancer is pretty silly.
Its a metaphor notba comparison. Cousins is a net negative is what it means and I am not talking about solely on court performance. His personality and problems are well documented. Add those things to his on court things and you are only asking for problems on your team if he is there. Like a cancer he will kill your championship hopes.
Metaphor......
Why did Coach K tolerate him on Team USA? Why did Coach Cal tolerate him at Kentucky? Both coaches are very successful, have won a lot, and both like this young man. Coach K did not have to have Cousins on Team USA to win the gold. The fact that he played is a testament to his on-court value. If he's good enough for Coach K, he's good enough for Brad Stevens.
I think his "well documented personality and problems" are way overblown. Kobe, MJ, Isiah, and Larry Bird were all hard to get along with at certain times. MJ and Isiah Thomas had a "well documented" beef. I would take both players on my team then and now, b/c they had superior talent. Same goes for Cousins.
I loved his comments this past February: “I’m an ugly dude,” he said. “I really can’t help how my face looks. You’re just gonna have to take it. Some people like it, some people don’t. It’s just my face.”
“If I was shorter, I don’t think I’d be intimidating. They’d be like, ‘That’s a little ugly person.’ Because I’m big, intimidating.”
If his "cancerous" reputation somehow makes him available- great. I just think its nuts that there are a bunch of guys that have never met the man that are so willing to trash him. As far as I know, he hasn't done anything bad enough to make him off-limits.
